Wheeled toy animal



-. Feb. 12, 1929.

III:I

1,701,910 cs. DAVIS WHEELIED TOY ANIMAL Filed Marbh 1328 ,7 762 6. Dazzzls.

I MM 4M W y Talented Feb. 12, 1929.

r STATES rAreNT FF-ICEQ IRA Gr. DAVIS, OF SOUTH TAMWORTI'I, NEW HAlWPSHIB-E, ASSIZGNOR T BEMIS minus TREES INQ, OF BOSTON, MASSAGHU$ETTS, A COBPGEATION OLE DELAWARE.

WEEELED TOY ANIMAL.

Application filed March 7, 1928. Serial No. 259,669.

This invention relates to toy animals and particularly to articles of this character which are adapted to be drawn along upon a supporting surface, such asa floor, sidewalk,

or the like.

The present invention provides a toy animal and more specifically a toy duck, which may be inexpensively manufactured out of a few wooden parts and which is simple and sturdy in construction. This toy may be used either indoors or outdoors, and is free from parts which are likely tohurt the child. Furthermore, a toy of this character may be comparatively simple and elementary in its outline, resembling a duck or other animal, without providing an exact replica of the same, thus appealing to and stimulating the imagination of the child user.

Specifically the present invention comprises a toy duck having a body portion which is eccentrically mounted in relation to supporting rollers, so that movement of the toy over the floor or other supporting surface will cause the body to rock transversely, thus affording an imitation of the characteristic waddle of animals of this character. In conjunction with the supporting rollers I provide a secondary supporting member, having portions adapted alternately and intermittently to engage the floor or other supporting surface in response to movement of the toy over the same. This secondary support or; control member may be connected to the head or other movably mounted part of the animal, toturn the same from side to side, in re sponse to the movement of the body portion of the toy. Consequently the present invention affords a simple, attractive, rather whimsical appearing toy, which is inexpensive to manufacture and which is adapted to endure considerable abuse in the hands of its young user.

The above and further objects and advantageous features of the invention will be apparent upon a reading of the sub cined description and claims in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the toy;

Fig. 2 is a front view of the same; and

Fig. 3 is a top view, more or less diagrammatic in character. I

A toy of the type exemplified in the accompanying drawings may preferably have a body portion 1 consisting of a central block 2 and side pieces 3. This body portion may be shaped and painted to afiord a conventionalized representation of the body of an animal, such as a duck. The side pieces 3 depend below the central block 2, having openings 5 to receive axle 6 which extends there through.

The axle may be of any suitable cross section, and is provided with eccentrically disposed portions 7 which, as shown, are of cylindrical form, although obviously they may be of any suitable cam-like contour. Eccentrics 7 are oppositely disposed in relation to the axle 6, as indicated more clearly in Fig. 2. The wheels or rollers 8, which may con-' veniently be turned of wood, are fixed to the outer ends of axle 6, and are adapted to rotate therewith. The peripheries of these rollers preferably are provided with a convex curva-v ture, as shown in Fig. 2, so that theymay readily turn slightly away from the normal straight-ahead direction in which the toy is being drawn. Gpenings 5 engage the eccentrics 7 somewhat loosely in order to permit rocking of the animal body in relation to the axle and rollers.

A vertical shaft 10 is loosely mounted in the front part of body portion 1 of the toy, so that it is adapted to turn freely in relation to the same. To the lower end of this shaft is fixed a control member 11 having depend.- ing extremities 12 that are adapted intermittently and alternately to engage the supporting surface over which the duck is being drawn, while it rocks first to one side and then the other. Depending portions 12 may be made of any suitable material having a fairly high coefficient of friction, but I have found wood quite satisfactory for this purpose. The

upper end of control member 11 engages the under side of a forwardly extending projection 14 from block 2 of the body portion of the duck, while a suitable stop 19 may be provided to engage the back of member 11 to limit its oscillatory movement as the portions 12 alternately engage the supporting surface. Projection let is provided with an opening 15 to receive a cord 16 by which the toy may be drawn. The lower front portion of mem' ber 11 preferably is beveled, as designated by numeral 18, so that the device will pass over minor projections or irregularities in the supporting surface. The member 11 also forms a secondary support, cooperating with the 7 wheels 8 in holding the body in proper posi.

tion above the floor as well as causingthe' V swinging of the ducks head.

The upper. end of shaft 10 is fixed within 'a movable: head 20, whichmay be suitably painted to provlde a conventionalizedrepre+ sentation of the corresponding part of the animal. T Block 2 is extended upwardly, as designated'by numeral '22, to represent the neck of the duck and to afford a flat surface upon which the lower part of the head may rest. It is evident that a device of this character may be'economically manufactured of inexpensive materials, for example all of the parts maybeimade of wood suitably glued, nailed or otherwise securedtoget-her, the severalparts being readily shapedupon conventional woodworking machinery;

In the use of this toy, it is evident that the duck is drawn along a floor, sidewall: or

I other supporting surface by the string 16." As 7 a consequence of the 'GCCGHUIC mounting of the roller support, the body portion 1 rocks fromsid'e to side, such action being permitted. by the loose engagement of the openings 5 with the cam members '7'. When'the body portion has tilted considerablyltoone side,

the oppositeipartof control member 11 is lifted out of en a 'ement with the su norta b 1 lng surface andthe fldjOlIllIlg portion 12 7 tends tobe retarded by frictional engage- -ment with this surface, sothat member 12 is oscillated about the axis of shaft 10, the headQO being similarly pivoted so that the hea'd'swings to one side as the body rocks toward that "side; this position of the parts is shown more particularly in Fig.2. Itis :1 is also a swinging movement in a plane sub evident that the member 11 engages stop 19 to limit its swinging movement, whereupon the part 12 may slide along the supporting surface for "a little wayuntil the'body portlon has swung toward its central or upright po'sition,{- whereupon the parts 12 both .engagethe floor :or other supporting surface andthe head becomes aligned with the body.

Obviously continued 'movement of the ani -mal then causes the control member and head to. swing in the opposite direction;

In addition'to the'rock-ing of the body portion in a plane substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement of the toy, there stantially parallel tothe direction of toy movement, both of these swinging movements being in response to the eccentric ar-' .rangement of the roller support and grader 1 ally merging into each other in alternate suc- CGSSIOD."Tl1HS, when the rollers 'and eccentrics are disposed in the fullline position of Fig. 3', and as shown in Fig. 1, the axle-will be at a considerable horizontal angle in re.

lation to the body portion; accordingly, the

front end of the'body ordinarily tends to swing from side toside in relation to the di-- rection of movement, (the elements 12 sliding laterally to permit this movement) while th'erollers will also alternately tend to turn toward oneside or the other somewhat, due

to the eccentric arrangement. The combined effect of the various irregular movements ofthe body thus results man exceedlngly vlilmsical, yet realistic resemblance to the natural rollers being-connected by an axle, said axle carrying oppositely-disposed cam portions loosely engaging opposite sidesof the body portion to cause transverse swinging of the.

animal as it is moved over a supportingsurrace, means carried by the body. portion for face in response to said rockingmovement,

and a movable part connected to said meansto be actuated thereby." p Y 3; toy animal comprising a body portion, a movable part mounted on the body portion, rollers supporting the body portion, saidrollers being. eccentrically mounted to cause transverse rocking of the animalas it is moved over a supporting surface, a control member having its mid portion pivoted to the body portion and its ends arranged to en-. gageintermittently and alternately :the sup- 7 porting surface in response to said rocking movement, SELld'Il'lOVflblG part being connected to saidcontrol member to be actuated-thereby.

4. toy animal comprising a. body portion, a movable part mounted on the body portion, rollers supporting the body portion said rollers being eccentrically mounted to cause transverse'rocking of'the animal as it is moved over a supporting surface, a control member having its mid-portion pivoted to the body portion and its ends arranged to engage intermittently and alternately the supporting surface in response to said rocking movement,and a pivot shaft supportmgsald control member, said movable part being coni nected to said shaft to be actuatedthereby;

5. A toy duck comprising a body portion,

.spaoedaxle receiving elements upon said body portion, an axle having eccentrically mounted portions engaging said elements, ahead piv: 'oted to said body portion, a floor engaging member pivoted to the body portion and'having depending end portions alternatelyto engage the floor, a' shaft extending verticallyintermittentlyengaging thejsupporting surthrough said body portion and carrying a head upon its upper end and the floor engaging member upon its lower end, whereby the head is swung in response to the rocking 5 movement of said body portion.

6. A toy duck comprising a body portion, spaced axle receiving elements upon said body portion, an axle having eccentrioally mounted portions engaging said elements, a head piv- 10 oted to said body portion, and means adapted alternately to engage the floor at either side of the center of the body portion in response to the transverse rocking of the body portion in that direction, said head being connected to said means whereby the head is swung in response to the transverse rocking of the body portion as it is drawn over said floor.

Signed by me at Laoonia, N. H., this 28th day of February, 1928.

IRA G. DAVIS. 

